Apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter used for tapping urinary discharge wherein the catheter includes a hollow cylindrical connector having an annular flange positioned at the lower portion thereof, a prophylactic, and a drain hose.

llnite ttes Patent 1191 Abho a1. 4, 1975 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLKNG AND 139,931 6/1873 510m 269/53 MSASSEMBLHNG A DKSPQSABLE 7 12x32; gingleymtml 2.6293245:

2., erman 6 E1 EXTERNAL CATHETER 2,572,204 10/195! Schneider eta] 269/545 [76] inventor: Toma O. Abba, l Meadow Brook 3,030,994 4/1962 Wysowski 269/545 Dr., Oklahoma City, Okla. 72205 [22] Filed: July 26, 1973 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham:

Assistant Examiner-James R. Duzan [21] Appl' 382562 Attorney, Agent, or FirmEdwin Hl. Crabtree I52] US. Cl .1 29/200 H, 29/235, 29/244.

29/282, 269/54, 269/545 ABSTRACT 3 2 A method and apparatus for assembling and disassem- 269/54 '4' 54 15 5 55 bling a disposable external catheter used for tapping urinary discharge wherein the catheter includes a hollow cylindrical connector having an annular flange p0- [zl References Cited sitioned at the lower portion thereof, a prophylactic,

UNITED STATES PATENTS an a ram 058 10,575 2/1854 Johnson 26 /53 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBILING A DTSPOSABLE EXTERNAL CATHETER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a method and apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter applied to the penis to carry urinary discharge from the penis to a suitable collecting container.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, various types of male urinals or external catheters for attachment to the penis have been developed and used which include different types of collection devices attached thereto for carrying away urinary discharge. Such devices are generally used by patients who are unable to control urination or who are bedridden or incapacitated. While the use of a disposable prophylactic connected to a drain hose for urinary discharge has been proposed, the assembly and disassembly of such an external catheter is often a problem.

By the present invention, a simplified method and apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter is provided which can quickly and easily be assembled and disassembled by the patient using the catheter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to simplifiedmethods and apparatus for assembling an external disposable catheter used for urinary discharge wherein the catheter includes a hollow cylindrical connector having an annular flange positioned at the lower portion thereof, a prophylactic, and a drain hose. The catheter is assembled by securing the connector in a fixed position, puncturing the closed end of the prophylactic, positioning the inside of the closed end of the prophylactic over the upper portion of the connector, and securing the upper portion of the connector and the closed end of the propylactic inside the inner periphery of one end of the drain hose. Methods and apparatus for disassembling such external catheters are also provided.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of methods and apparatus which allow a patient who is unable to control urinary discharge to easily and quickly assemble and disassemble an external disposable catheter for attachment to the penis.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of simplified methods and apparatus which eliminate the high cost of the presently used catheters for urinary discharge or similar urinary collection devices used in the medical field.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of methods and apparatus for assembling and disassembling disposable external catheters which allow the reuse of the connector and hose with the replacement of the prophylactic only being required.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of methods and apparatus for assembling and disassembling disposable external catheters which allow patients having control over only one hand to quickly and easily assemble and attach the catheter and then later remove and disassemble the catheter.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofa disposable catheter assembled on the assembly base using the apparatus of FIG. 1, v

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a type of external disposable catheter'which may be assembled using the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another portion of the apparatus of the present invention for disassembling a disposable external catheter, and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illus trated in FIGS. 1 and 2 used to release the drain hose from the prophylactic and connector of a disposable external catheter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of the assembly and disassembly apparatus of the present invention generally designated by the numeral 10. The apparatus 10 includes a base 11 having a recess 12 disposed therein and an upstanding post 14 mounted vertically and centrally secured in the recess 12. The post 14 also has a pointed end 15. The apparatus 10 further includes an L-shaped locking device 13 wherein the shorter arm 16 of the device 13 is substantially perpendicular to the base 11 and acts as a handle for the device 13. The longer arm 21 of the device 13, which is integrally attached at one end to the shorter arm 16, is substantially parallel to the base 11 and has an arcuately shaped groove 23 at the other end of the arm 21. The mid-portion of the arm 21 is rotatably secured to the base ll by a screw or similar securing means 18. The device 13 is positioned adjacent to the recess l2 so that the groove 23 can be rotated over the recess 12 when held in a locked position. A locking device retainer 17 is also positioned adjacent to the recess l2 and is secured to the base III by a screw or similar securing means 19. The retainer 117 includes a flange 25 which retains the arm 21 of the locking device 13 from vertical movement when the device 13 is in a locked position over recess 12. A spring 20 is at tached to the locking device 13 and the base 11 so that the locking device 13 is constantly urged into the locked position.

An external disposable catheter 22 is illustrated to show the type of catheter that can be readily assembled and disassembled using the apparatus 10 of the present invention. The catheter 22 includes a hollow cylindrical connector 24 having an inner diameter 26, an outer diameter 27, and an outer peripheral surface 28. The connector also includes an annular flange 30 positioned at its lower end. A prophylactic 32 is provided having a closed end 34 and a drain hose 36 is provided having one end leading to a urine collection device (not shown) and the other end 40 frictionally engaged with the prophylactic 32 and connector 24, which is shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation with a partial cut-away of the catheter 22 assembled on the base 1 I. The flange 30 of the connector 24 is shown resting on top of the arm 21 of locking device 13. The post I4 is positioned inside the inner diameter 26 of connector 24 and extending outwardly therefrom with the pointed end 15 of post 14 extending through a punctured portion 46 of the closed end 34 of prophylactic 32. The outer peripheral surface 28 of connector 24 and the closed end 34 of prophylactic 32 are shown secured inside the hose end 40 of the hose 36. 7

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial cut-away of the assembled catheter 22 which is an example of a catheter that can be easily assembled and disassembled using the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The catheter 22 is shown with prophylactic 32 partially unrolled and the bottom portion 34 and outer peripheral surface 28 of the connector 24 secured inside the hose end 40 of hose 36. FIG. 3 also illustrates a flow of urine 44 from the prophylactic 32 through the inner diameter 26 of connector 24, through the punctured portion 46 of the closed end 34 of prophylactic 32 and into the drain hose 36.

FIG. 4 illustrates another portion of the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and used in conjunction with apparatus 10 for disassembling a disposable external catheter. The additional apparatus shown is a forked tool 48 having a handle 50 and a fork 52 attached to the handle 50 by a screw or similar securing means 53.

FIGS shows the apparatus 10 and catheter 22 shown in FIG. 2 but further includes the tool 48 positioned on top of base 11 with the forked portion of the fork 52 positioned against the outer periphery 28 of the connector 24. Also shown in FIG. is the flange 30 of connector 24 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the recess 12, inserted into the recess 12 and held in a fixed position by the locking device 13.

OPERATION I Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the apparatus is shown, the method of assembling the catheter 22 is comprised of the flange 30 of connector 24 positioned on top of the arm 21 of locking device 13 with the post 14 inserted through the inner diameter 26 of the connector 24 wherein the connector 24 is secured in a fixed position. Next, the inside of closed end 34 of the prophylactic 32 is centrally aligned and positioned on top of both the upper portion of connector 24 and the pointed end of the post 14.

The inside of the hose end 40 of the hose 36 is now secured around the closed end 34 of prophylactic 32 thereby compressing it against the outer peripheral surface 28 of the connector 24. As the hose end 40 of hose 36 is secured around the closed end 34 of prophylactic 32 the closed end 34 is forced against the pointed end 15 of post 14 thus causing it to be punctured. The catheter 22 is now assembled and removed from the assembly apparatus 10 to be used by the patient.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the apparatus 10 and forked tool 48 are used in the method of disassembling the catheter 22. The locking deivce I3 is rotated away from the recess 12 and the flange 30 of the connector 24 is inserted inside the recess 12. The locking device 13 is now rotated with the urging of spring into a locked position over the recess 12. The groove 23 of when held in a locked position over the recess 12 to further aid in securing the flange 30 of connector 24 in a fixed position.

The forked portion of the fork 52 is now positioned around the outer periphery 28 of connector 24 and between the upper portion of the arm 21 and the inside of the closed end 34 of prophylactic 32. The bottom end of the handle 50 of tool 48 which rests on top of the base 11 is now rotated downwardly and rearwardly away from the catheter 22, causing the fork 52 to ride upwardly along the outer periphery 28 of connector 24 thus pushing upwardly the frictionally secured closed end 34 of prophylactic 32 and hose end 40 until they are removed from the outer periphery 28 of connector 24. The catheter 22 is now disassembled and the used prophylactic 32 is discarded. The connector 24 and hose 36 can be washed and reassembled with a new prophylactic.

Changes may be made in combination and arrangementof the method and apparatus as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter used for tapping urinary discharge wherein the catheter includes a hollow cylindrical connector having an annular flange on the lower portion thereof, a prophylactic having the closed end punctured, and a drain hose, the upper portion of said connector and the closed end of said prophylactic being frictionally secured to one end of said drain hose which is comprised of:

a base;

an upstanding pointed post having the lower end secured to said base;

a recess in said base having a diameter at least as large as the annular flange of said connector for receiving said annular flange; and

a locking device secured to said base adjacent to said recess so that the annular flange of said connector can be held in a fixed position inside said recess by said locking device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said post is centrally aligned in said recess and has a diameter at least as small as the inner diameter of said hollow cylindrical connector and a length at least as long as the length of said hollow cylindrical connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 which is further characterized to include means for removing the prophylactic and the hose from the connector when the connector is held in a fixed position by said locking device.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized to include a spring mounted to said base and connected to said locking device so that said locking device is held in a locked position during disassembly of said catheter. 

1. An apparatus for assembling and disassembling a disposable external catheter used for tapping urinary discharge wherein the catheter includes a hollow cylindrical connector having an annular flange on the lower portion thereof, a prophylactic having the closed end punctured, and a drain hose, the upper portion of said connector and the closed end of said prophylactic being frictionally secured to one end of said drain hose which is comprised of: a base; an upstanding pointed post having the lower end secured to said base; a recess in said base having a diameter at least as large as the annular flange of said connector for receiving said annular flange; and a locking device secured to said base adjacent to said recess so that the annular flange of said connector can be held in a fixed position inside said recess by said locking device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said post is centrally aligned in said recess and has a diameter at least as small as the inner diameter of said hollow cylindrical connector and a length at least as long as the length of said hollow cylindrical connector.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 which is further characterized to include means for removing the prophylactic and the hose from the connector when the connector is held in a fixed position by said locking device.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized to include a spring mounted to said base and connected to said locking device so that said locking device is held in a locked position during disassembly of said catheter. 